John a



J. A. HOLM.

TIMER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-2|. 1919.

Patented J 11116 22, 1920. 5

INVE/VTUI? HIS ATTORNEYS JOHN A. I IOLM, OF NEW YORK, N.'Y.

TIMER.

Specification oi Letters Patent.

Application filed February 21, 1919. Serial No. 278,413.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatI, JOHN A. HoLM, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Manhattan, city, county, and State of New York, have invented anImprovement in Timers, of which the following is a specification.

his invention relates to devices for controlling the ignition in multiple cylinder internal combustion engines, and is an improvement upon the invention illustrated and described in a co-pendin application for Letters Patent filed by me ecember 10, 1918, Serial No. 266,142. One object of the present invention being to make use of a less number of parts, thereby economizing in material and cost of manufacture; a other object being to render the employment of the customary metallic housing or casing unnecessary; another object being to render the device foolproof; another object be-. ing to provide a brush or movable contact that is self-adjusting so that a smooth and even contact is positively assured between the same and the fixed contacts during the revolution of the timer shaft; at the same time retaining all the advantageous features of the device of my previous application above referred to, namely, the arrange ment of the contacting surfaces in a plane transverse of the timer shaft; the arrangement of the terminal connections so that they may be connected to the wiring all on the top of the timer; the present device also being adapted to operate to best advantage without any interior lubricant.

The details of the invention are hereinafter particularly described.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1, is an inner end view of a timer embodying my invention, thev shaft being in section.

Fig. 2, is a vertical section on the broken line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the movable contact carrier.

Fig. 4 is a side view of the same.

Fig. 5 is a fragmental view showing the movable contact in engagement with one of the fixed contacts shown in section, a portion of the body also being shown in section, and y a Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing a modified form of the movable contact.

Similar reference characters denote like parts throughout the several figures.

Referring to the drawing, 10 indicates the body of the timer, which is substantially hollow, and externally of a shape similar to the present standard Ford timer, proylded with the usual lug 11, having an opening 12, to receive the connection for adjustment to advance or retard the spark. This body member is of hard fiber or like insulating material, and is molded or pressed to shape. I prefer to line the opening 12, with a metallic tube 13, to strengthen the lug 11 at this point and lessen frictional wear.

The body 10 at one side is interiorly rabbeted to form an annular raceway 14 into which are seated quadrantally spaced fixed contact blocks 15, 16, 17, 18. These fixed contact blocks are preferably pressed into place at the time of molding the body member and in such manner that their outer surfaces are flush with the surface of the raceway. i

19 and 20, are two metallic blocks, also set into the raceway 14, but not extending to the surface thereof.

Spaced binding posts 21, 22 are mounted blocks 19, 20 into contact with which the terminals 29, 30 of the binding posts 25, 26 are brought, these terminals passing through openings in the fiber body 10. The strips or wires 27, 28 are preferably pressed into place at the time of molding the body memher, and extend past the upper contact block 15, 16, but insulated therefrom.

The end of the timer shaft 31, which extends into the hollow body 10 has secured to it a hub 32, provided with two spaced lugs 33 on one side extending at right angles to the shaft. This hub may be secured to the shaft by a pin 34 or by any other suitable means. A collar 35, may be fixedvto the shaft against one side of the hub, and a clamp nut 36, may be screwed upon the end of the shaft, with a washer or collar 37 between it and said hub; a lock nut 47 may also be employed if desired."

38, denotes a forked member provided Patented June 22, 1920.

with a reduced projection or neck 39, having a right angled extension 40, adapted to fit between the spaced lugs 33, on the hub 32, being pivotally held therein by a pivot pin 41 passing through a transverse hole in the lower part of said extension, and through alined holes in said lugs.

There is a longitudinal recess or comparatively deep socke 42, in the end of the projection 39, into which is inserted a spiral spring 43, one end of which projects from said socket and bears against the hub between the lugs 33. This forked member 38 is of a length to extend across the top of the raceway 14 in the body member, but clear of the inner surface of the wall of said body. Within the forked end of the mem ber 38, there is a contact block or brush 44 pivotally secured therein by a pivot pin This block is carried around in a circle continuously while the shaft 31, is rotating, and is at all times kept in contact with the surface of the raceway 14, by reason of the end of the member 38, with which it is connected being continuously pressed downward by the spring 43, while the pivotal connection of the traveling block together with the pivotal connection of the member 33 to the hub 32, renders the block 44 selfadjusting so that there will always be an even and level contact of the under surface of the block upon the raceway and upon the faces of the fixed contacts 15, 16, 17 18, as

the block passes over such contacts during the revolution of the shaft 31.

The block 44, is preferably of steel, while the fixed contacts 15, 16, 17, 18, may be of bronze or like metal.

The pivotal-connections of the member 38, and block 44 together with the action of the spring 43, also renders the block selfadjusting with respect to wear upon the raceway or fixed contacts, or variance in measurements of the timer shaft.

Furthermore, should the under surface of the block 44 become too much worn by long usage, its usefulness may be prolonged by simply reversing its position, bringing the top surface into contact with the raceway.

In Fig. 6, of the drawing, I have shown a modification in the attachment of the traveling block or brush to the pivoted member 38; In this form of my invention, the free end of the member 38, is made solid instead of forked, and a contact button 46, is connected thereto by a ball and socket joint, but the arrangement previously described is preferred.

My invention provides a timer in which there are no projecting members for the movable contact block to strike against. It rides over a smooth and level surface at all times, and isself-adjusting with respect to wear either upon itself or the raceway and fixed contacts.

There is no requirement for internal lubrication; it is certain in action, and has a longer period of usefulness than other devices of this character heretofore employed.

I claim as my invention:

1. An ignition timer, comprising a body having an interior annular raceway, a plu- "ality of spaced fixed contacts seated therein, a rotary shaft extending into the body perpendicular to said raceway, a hub secured to said shaft and provided on one side with two spaced parallel lugs extending laterally therefrom, a member pivotally connected at one end between said lugs and extending therefrom, a contact member pivotally connected in the free end of said pivoted member, and a spring located between saidspaced lugs with one end bearing upon the side of said hub and its other end bearing upon said pivoted member.

2. An ignition timer, comprising a body having an interior annular raceway, a plurality of spaced fixed contacts seated therein, a rotary shaft extending into the body perpendicular to said raceway, a hub secured to said shaft and provided on one side with two spaced parallel lugs extending laterally therefrom, a member forked at one end and provided with a reduced portion at its other end having a right angled extension pivoted between said lugs, said reduced portion having a longitudinal recess, a contact block pivoted in the forked end of said member, and a spiral spring located within said recess and extending therefrom to bear against one side of the hub between said spaced lugs thereon.

3. In an ignition timer and in combination, a body of insulating material having an interior annular raceway, a series of fixed contacts seated therein with their surfaces flush with the surface of the raceway, two or more metallic blocks set into said raceway below its surface, binding posts whose terminals engage certain of said fixed contacts, binding posts whose terminals engage said metallic blocks intermediate the first named binding posts, conductors extending from said metallic blocks into contact with the remaining fixed contacts, a rotary shaft extending into the body perpendicular to said raceway, a' hub-secured to said shaft and provided on one side with two spaced parallel lugs extending laterally therefrom, a member pivotally connectedat one end between said lugs and extending therefrom, a contact member pivotally connected in the free end of said pivoted member, and a spring located betw en said spacedlugs with one end bearing upon the side of said hub and its other end bearing upon said pivoted member.

4. In an ignition timer and in combination, a body. of insulating material having an interior annular raceway, a series of fixed contacts seated therein with their surfaces flush with the surface of the racewa two or more metallic blocks set into sai raceway below its surface, bindin posts with terminals engaging certain of said fixed contacts, binding posts with terminals engaging said metallic blocks, conductors extending from said blocks into contact with the remaining fixed contacts, a rotary shaft extending into the body, a hub secured to said shaft and provided on one side with two spaced parallel lugs extending laterally therefrom, a member forked at one end and provided with a reduced portion at its other end having a right angle extension pivoted between said spaced lugs, said reduced portion having a longitudinal recess, a contact block pivoted in the forked end of said member, and a spiral spring located within said recess and extending therefrom to bear upon one side of the hub between said lugs. Signed by me this 18th day of February, 1919.

JOHN A. HOLM. 

